The History and Future of Subsea Cables: Connecting the World Beneath the Waves
Subsea cables are the silent workhorses of modern communication, carrying nearly 99% of all international data and enabling the seamless digital experiences we often take for granted. These underwater marvels form the backbone of global connectivity, linking continents and powering industries, governments, and individuals alike.
The story of subsea cables is one of technological triumph, shifting drivers of investment, and ever-evolving challenges. At Connectbase, we’re proud to collaborate with industry leaders shaping this critical infrastructure. Let’s explore their history, current state, and future, highlighting key subsea cable systems and the providers behind them.
The history of subsea cables began in 1858 with the groundbreaking deployment of the first transatlantic telegraph cable between Newfoundland and Ireland. While the project initially faced setbacks, it revolutionized communication by reducing transcontinental message delivery times from weeks to mere minutes.
By the 20th century, subsea cables evolved to support telephone calls and later embraced fiber-optic technology in the 1980s. Fiber optics transformed global communication, offering unprecedented data speeds and reliability. Today, these cables enable terabits of data transfer every second, serving as the foundation of the internet economy.
Modern subsea cables span over 1.4 million kilometers, connecting nearly every corner of the globe. Investments are strategically focused on regions where bandwidth demand is exploding, redundancy is critical, and connectivity gaps remain.
These cables ensure the scalability and resilience needed for applications like cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and streaming media, meeting the needs of a rapidly digitizing world.
In the past, telecommunications companies dominated subsea cable investments. However, today’s ecosystem is increasingly driven by hyperscalers like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. This shift reflects the unique demands of cloud providers:
For instance, Google’s Equiano Cable connects Europe to Africa, while Amazon’s Jupiter Cable supports Asia-Pacific operations. These projects exemplify how hyperscalers are reshaping the subsea landscape to support their global networks.
Constructing subsea cables is no small feat, requiring meticulous planning, cutting-edge technology, and significant financial investment. Key challenges include:
Governments play an essential role in enabling these projects through funding, regulatory oversight, and cybersecurity standards. Their involvement ensures these cables benefit the broader economy and society.
While subsea cables are vital for international data transfer, local peering can reduce reliance on these systems. Peering allows networks to exchange traffic locally, keeping data within regional hubs to:
However, when traffic must cross oceans, subsea cables are indispensable. They support global commerce, cloud services, and international collaboration, ensuring our world remains connected.
Subsea cables underpin every aspect of modern life. They:
The subsea cable ecosystem owes its success to the ingenuity and dedication of its providers. At Connectbase, we work with industry leaders who drive innovation and ensure the reliability of global networks:
Looking ahead, subsea cables will play an even greater role in global connectivity, with a focus on sustainability, higher capacity, and expanded reach to underserved regions. Providers are working on greener technologies and redundant systems to ensure resilient, scalable infrastructure.
At Connectbase, we’re proud to enable collaboration within the subsea cable ecosystem, connecting buyers, sellers, and partners through our Provider Directory. Together, we’re building a future where global connectivity is faster, more reliable, and more inclusive—both above ground and beneath the waves.